Grand jury decision on Patrick Kane expected next week

A grand jury is expected to make a decision next week in the case of Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane and his cousin James Kane, who are accused of beating a Buffalo cabdriver last weekend.

Paul Cambria, Patrick Kane's lawyer, says he received a letter from the district attorney's office offering Kane the option to testify but declined."The grand jury is a one-way, unfair process that permits the district attorney to ask questions of my witness but does not permit me to ask questions of his witnesses," Cambria told the Buffalo News. "I don't choose to participate in anything so one-sided."

The Kanes are accused of attacking and robbing 62-year-old Jan Radecki in a fare dispute. They are to appear at a hearing Thursday in Buffalo City Court. The cousins have been charged with second-degree robbery, a Class C felony, and fourth-degree criminal mischief and theft of services, both Class A misdemeanors.

The grand jury can decide to proceed with those charges and indict the Kanes, dismiss the charges or downgrade the felony charge to a misdemeanor and leave the matter to the city court.